National Republican., 1887-10-18
THE SIGNAL SERVICE.
What Has Been Accomplished and tho
= improvements Necessary.


Gen. A. w. Greedy, chief signal officer,
has submitted his annual report to the Sec
retary of War.
Y The report begins by inviting attention to
the condition OF the military signaling sys-
ten, and says that for several years there
was not even division OF military signal
ing in the office Of the chief signal officer,
and 1t is only within the past eighteen
months that the slight and perfunctory at
tention paid to this branch of the service
has been rectifed. Despite the advisabilty
OF experiments and improvements for SUCH
active service, the chief signal officer re-
grets to say that the fell telegraph train of
the signal corps Is practically the same now
as that used nearly quarter Of acentury
since. The system OF visual signaling also
remains the same, with reference to aags
and torches, as In war time. Efforts are
being made, with gradual success, to sim
plify the models Of the old and cumber-
some flag. Kits, and to replace the torches
by more satisfactory and economical ele-
ment.
Reference is made to the good results at
tending the use OF expert signalmen In
Gen. Miles's campaign, and the case is used
as an illustration Of the necessity for spe.
cial training and drill to procure officers
and men whose services can be relied upon
in the field. 1t is said to be evident from
the record of this and past years that, in.
stead OF the army being properly and eill-
ciently drilled in military signaling, there is
not an average OF an officer to regiment
who Is competent to transmit signals-by
sun, flag, and torch-day and night, except
those who have passed through regular
course OF instruction In direct connection
With this office.
Touching:weather forecasts, Gen. Greedy
ssys he has been strongly urged to furnish
special predictions for cities, towns, aud
corporations, work which SO far this
office is unable to satisfactorily undertake,
owing to the limited time which elapses
between the receipt of the telegraphic re.
ports and the hour at which the predictions
must be Issued to the general public.
The increase In the length OF hours in the
tri'daily indications has, II is said, naturally
resulted In reduced percentage Of varldca-
tion, the diminution amounting to Z per
cent, but Ii is believed that this may be
compensated for by increased skill and
practice.
The general percentages of successful In
dications during the year have been For
weather, 74,5; wind, 69.l; temperature,
74.4; general average OF 739. This re.
suit Is not satisfactory to the chief signal
officer, but the reasons for 1t he has stated
as above.
Reference is made to the dlscontinuance
is suggested in order that notice may be
given OF approaching hurricanes.
During the current year there have been
1910 storm signals Of all kinds ortered, OF
which 1,034, or SO. per cent. have been verl.
fed. This percentage is tue lowest for
years, and the causes therefor are those
set forth In treating the subject of iniica
tions of this subject.
The bureau has In view the early display
OF signals which will not only indicate
whether the storm is to be light or severe,
but also show whether winds are 10 come
from special quarter, and-a matter at
times OF great mportance-whether the
storm center is approaching or has passed
the station.
{ In order to meet the needs OF the north
west, and to comply with the earnest ap.
plications from citizens and corporate bodies
OF great vested values, the chief signal Off
Ger has under consideration the plan of
stationing an indications officer at st Paul,
MINI. This arrangement would enable
that officer to receive his reports on an
average Of an hour earlier than IN Wash
ington, and would further enable him to
send out warnings Of cold waves IN that
section from tive to five hours. earlier than
is now done. OF the cold wave signals
sent out 7S,6 per cent. were verified.
Touching the river aud flood reports Gen.
Grcely says 1t seems to him that such sys-
TEN of river and rainfall stations might be
established as would enable practlced In
dications officer TO predict, with consider.
able certainty, the extent and continuance
OF any great flood many days 10 advance,
so that timely warnings would afford ample
opportunity for such precautions as would
mitigate the severity Of such disasters.
The recommendation for the purchase Of